NPP govt. to establish trade embassies in African region to find emerging markets: AKD

• Points out Sri Lankan market is too small for entrepreneurs and industrialists to survive   

By Ajith Siriwardana

Claiming that the Sri Lankan market is too small for entrepreneurs and industrialists to survive in, NPP leader Anura Kumara Dissanayake said that an NPP government will establish trade embassies in the African region to find emerging markets there.   

Speaking to a group of business people in Kelaniya on Wednesday night, he said only 3.8 million people out of the 22 million population come to the market for commercial purposes on a day, whereas some 400 million people come to the market in India.    “Our entrepreneurs and industrialists cannot survive in this small market. They must enter the international market. But, they are not supported by the government to do so. The economy is growing fast in the African region and a new market is emerging. An NPP government will open trade embassies in the African region to find new markets,” he said.   Dissanayake said construction companies in Sri Lanka have huge capacity to enter international markets but a government guarantee is required.   

“The government must find opportunities outside Sri Lanka for our entrepreneurs and industrialists. The Japanese engineering group Taisei, JAICA and China Harbour Engineering Company get projects in Sri Lanka through their respective embassies,” he said.   

He said an NPP government will help entrepreneurs and industrialists to find international markets through planned trade embassies.